Dec-Jan Update Week 14 thru 18

Thank you for your patience during these last several weeks. First of all the winter concert went very well. I will post some clips of some of the performances. The students watched their performances and enjoyed them very much. Thank you to all the teachers and students that were able to come. During the rest of December we spent most of our time reviewing concepts and began shutting down for the Christmas Break. My trombone quintet came by on December 15 and the students got to see my colleagues, as well as myself, perform. Christmas break then occured and nothing happened for two weeks.

The first week back in January unfortunately was uneventful. I went to the Florida Music Educators Association state music convention in Tampa. I learned several new things that I am sharing with the students but during that time all my classes were stuck watching a video.

Last week we began a study on Hip-Hop. This is an idea I got at music convention and thought that I would try with 3-5. During the next several weeks we will be looking at:

1. History of the Music. This is a link to what the students have studied so far: Hip-Hop.ppt
2. Pictures of famous rappers and DJs
3. Listening of some music. Music will be non-offensive

Goal for 3-5 at the end of this series is to be able to create own hip-hop song

2nd grade learned how to play drum beats. Drums are basic part of Hip-Hop and other music. Students will learn how to play a basic rock/hip-hop/R&B beat on their leg 1. Use right hand to tap eighth notes on the left knee. This will be the "high-hat"2. Use left hand on left thigh to tap on beats 2 and 4. This will be the "snare drum" 3. Use right foot to tap on beats 1 and 3. This will be bass drum 4. Teach indiviual the parts 5. Try combining two parts, then eventually all three.6. This will take a few weeks of practice to master. I also taught thme the song Jump, Jim, Joe. Focus will be on rests and steady beat. It is also a partner game. I sang entire song for children, asking them to clap with you on each occurence fo the word jump. Then asked them to stand and jump in place on each word jump. Practiced head shaking and nodding, toe tapping, and joining hands with partner and turning. Practiced entire verse one time, then explained how hands will be raised at the end, the partner search will begin and hands cannot come down until a new partner is round.


I also learned about podcasting at convention and I will have one available after this week. Next week we will be learning how to break dance.